Are Over 1.26 Lakh Professionals at GCCs in India Driving Enterprise AI Transformation?
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Synopsis
India is emerging as a global powerhouse in enterprise AI talent, housing over 126,600 professionals in AI roles at Fortune 500 Global Capability Centres (GCCs). This trend signals a shift from traditional operational roles to innovative AI command hubs, with projections indicating even more growth in the coming years.
Key Takeaways
- India has become the world's largest enterprise AI talent hub.
- 126,600 professionals work in AI-aligned roles at Fortune 500 GCCs.
- Core AI experts number over 18,300, indicating a shift towards innovation.
- GCCs now account for 22.5% of total AI talent demand in India.
- By 2028, GCCs will implement autonomous AI systems.
New Delhi, Dec 11 (NationPress) Recent findings reveal that Fortune 500 Global Capability Centres (GCCs) in India now boast a workforce exceeding 126,600 professionals in AI-focused roles. This positions India as the globe's largest, most vibrant, and rapidly expanding hub for enterprise AI talent, according to a report released on Thursday.
Among these, over 18,300 are recognized as core AI specialists engaged in areas such as machine learning, deep learning, LLM engineering, MLOps, and GenAI platform development. This signifies a significant transformation of GCCs from traditional execution centers to pioneering AI innovation command hubs, as highlighted in the report by ANSR in collaboration with Wizmatic.
“The next major competitive edge will not arise from constructing the most robust AI models but from effectively mobilizing talent to implement AI within enterprises. In this regard, India and its GCCs are assuming a crucial leadership role,” stated Vikram Ahuja, Co-founder of ANSR.
The study indicates that GCCs now represent 22.5% of India's overall AI talent demand, with AI-oriented professionals constituting 13% of the total workforce within Fortune 500 GCCs.
For each core AI position, GCCs tend to deploy an additional 5-6 professionals with adjacent skills in software engineering, data pipelines, and platform engineering to facilitate AI implementation and scalability.
India's concentration of AI talent has surged by 252% from 2016 to 2024, now standing at 2.51 times the global average.
The report also notes a reversal of the decade-long brain drain, as more senior AI professionals are choosing to remain in India due to high-impact GCC roles, attractive compensation packages, and access to global AI challenges.
The report outlines a five-stage maturity curve, illustrating GCCs' evolution from digitization to comprehensive AI orchestration.
By 2028, many GCCs are expected to implement enterprise-grade, autonomous AI systems, with the most advanced centers evolving into Cognitive Intelligence Hubs that align closely with global boardroom decision-making.
While Bengaluru captures 30% of India's AI workforce, Hyderabad has experienced a significant rise in AI centers of excellence (CoEs), led by cloud giants and advanced tech GCCs. Meanwhile, Chennai and Pune continue to enhance their domain-specific AI capabilities across sectors such as BFSI, industrial, and healthcare.
Point of View
I believe this report underscores India's pivotal role in the global AI landscape. With a growing workforce dedicated to AI, the country is not only addressing its domestic needs but also positioning itself as a leader in the innovation space. The shift from execution to innovation highlights a promising future for tech professionals in India.
NationPress
11/12/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
How many AI professionals are employed at GCCs in India?
Over 126,600 professionals are currently employed in AI-aligned roles at GCCs in India.
What percentage of India's AI talent demand do GCCs account for?
GCCs account for 22.5% of India's total AI talent demand.
What significant growth has been seen in India's AI talent concentration?
India's AI talent concentration has grown by 252% between 2016 and 2024.
What role do GCCs play in AI talent deployment?
For every core AI role, GCCs deploy an additional 5-6 professionals with adjacent skills to support AI deployment.
Which cities are leading in AI workforce concentration?
Bengaluru leads with 30% of India's AI workforce, followed by Hyderabad, Chennai, and Pune.
